He was born Feb. 3, 1938 in Wisconsin, to Art Burns and Maxine (Hall) Burns. They moved to Sunnyside in 1938.

He went to Wendell Phillip School and helped on the family farm. They took the sagebrush out of the ground and planted the orchard on Emerald Road in 1955.

He married Bernice Wentz and had two children.

Dick enlisted into the U.S. Army, where he served in the 82nd Airborne until he was honorably discharged.

He worked at Hanford until coming to help his parents on the family farm until their passing in 1977.

He and his brother, Robert operated the farm together until 1981.

He met Rose (Richardson) in 1980 and they married in 1981, in Reno, Nev.

They operated the farm until his passing.

He was an avid hunter and never missed a year. He hunted every year with many friends after all his crops were finished. The thrill of his life was when he killed his first bear just a few years ago.

His life was his family, his friends and his farm.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Burns; his son, Richard Burns Jr.; his daughter-in-law, Mary of Edmonds; his daughter, Mary Burns of Renton; four grandchildren, Katy and Ryan Burns, Justin Robinson and Samantha Engh; his brothers, Robert (Wanett) of Benton City and Danny (Movita) of Bend, Ore.; his sisters, Ann Koch of Sunnyside and Pat (Gary) Grimes of Kennewick; one uncle, Bill Burns; several nieces and nephews; his in-laws, Boyd and Ruby Richardson; and many friends.

Dick was preceded in death by Maxine and Art Burns; and one brother-in-law, Bill Koch.

He was loved and respected by many and will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW or WoundedWarriorsProject.org due to his long concern for wounded returning vets.

Viewing will be held Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Valley Hills Funereal Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home, with a military burial to follow at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside.